This educational guide is based on the linked primary sources. It is not a Court publication, is not affiliated with the Court, and is not legal advice.
In brief
Overview
The petitioners ask when a district attorney's office may be liable under §1983 for inadequate training of prosecutors.
The petitioners contend the office was liable because it was deliberately indifferent to Brady training, even though there was no pattern of prior misconduct.
The district court exempted the case from the ordinary pattern requirement by analogizing to a hypothetical in the Court’s City of Canton opinion.
The case involves a single incident of a Brady violation.
Background and question before the Court
The legal question is whether a single incident of a Brady violation can give rise to liability for a district attorney’s office under §1983 when there is no pattern of misconduct.
What each side argues
Petitioner (District Attorney’s Office)
The petitioners argue the office should be held liable because it was deliberately indifferent to providing Brady training to prosecutors.
Respondent (John Thompson)
Source-limited. The record does not yet support a complete account.
What happened at oral argument
Justice Ginsburg asked whether the situation falls between the Canton hypothetical and the present case, noting four prosecutors knew of the evidence.
According to Justice Sotomayor, justice Sotomayor questioned what evidence existed that the evidence was placed in a hip pocket.
According to Chief Justice Roberts, chief Justice Roberts inquired whether a mentoring‑based training program would be adequate.
Justice Alito asked if the proposed training is consistent with Arizona v. Youngblood.
According to Justice Alito and Justice Kagan, justices Alito and Kagan asked what advice could be given to ADAs to prevent such violations.
What the Court decided
Why it matters
Terms to know
No glossary terms are available for this guide.
Primary sources
Read the source materials on the official site or open the immutable repository copy used for this guide.
- 06fba3cad4d0cb17ef0d-r1-6ae201a22e7c0c07.pdforal argument transcript
Guide generated September 24, 2026. Automated validation accepted this version.